Skip next section Meloni condemns firing on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Meloni condemns firing on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
Italian Prime Minister told her Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, that attacks on UN peacekeepers are “unacceptable” during a phone call, according to her office.
“Prime Minister Meloni reiterated the unacceptability of UNIFIL being attacked by Israeli armed forces,” the Italian government said, referring to the UN’s peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon.
Meloni also called for the “full implementation” of and ended a war that year between Israel and Hezbollah.
Meloni also laid out Rome’s position on the incidents during a summit of European and Mediterranean leaders in Cyprus.
“UNIFIL mission headquarters and two Italian bases were hit by gunfire fired by Israeli forces… It is not acceptable, it violates what is established under UN resolution 1701,” she said.
At least five peacekeepers have been injured amid fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has urged the UN to move UNIFIL forces “out of harm’s way” as Israel carries out its offensive in the region.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljUa
Skip next section US to send Israel anti-missile system to help fend off Iran, militant groups
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
US to send Israel anti-missile system to help fend off Iran, militant groups
The United States said it will send Israel an advanced anti-missile system and US troops to operate it.
US President Joe Biden said the system would serve to “defend Israel.”
“It is part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months, to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias,” Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said, referring to the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the Washington was putting its soldiers lives at risk by “deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel.”
In recent months, Israel has been under fire from missiles and drones launched by Iran and allied militant groups as it carries out its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On October 1, Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, saying it was retaliation for Israel’s killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljfs
Skip next section IDF issues new evacuation messages for south Lebanon
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
IDF issues new evacuation messages for south Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called on residents of more than 20 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes amid its operations against the Hezbollah militant group.
“The Army does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes and relocate to the north of the Awali River,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The Awali River is located some 55 kilometers (34.2 miles) south of the capital, Beirut, and some 83 kilometers north of Lebanon’s border with Israel.
, located some 30 kilometers north of the border.
Since an increase in hostilities with Hezbollah since late September, Israel has issued numerous evacuation messages to residents throughout southern Lebanon and Beirut.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljUg
Skip next section IDF says Israeli tank entered ‘several meters’ into peacekeeper post
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
IDF says Israeli tank entered ‘several meters’ into peacekeeper post
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged one of its tanks entered a UN peacekeeper post in southern Lebanon, claiming that the vehicle was backing away from militant fire while evacuating injured soldiers.
It comes after the said that two Israeli Merkavas broke through the gate of a peacekeeper base.
“An initial review showed that an IDF tank that was trying to evacuate injured soldiers while still under fire backed several meters into a UNIFIL post,” the IDF said in a post on X.
“Once the enemy fire stopped, and following the evacuation of the injured soldiers, the tank left the post,” it said.
“IDF soldiers maintained coordination with UNIFIL,” the statement read. “Throughout the entirety of the incident, no danger was posed to UNIFIL forces by the IDF activity.”
Israel has urged the UN to remove peacekeepers from southern Lebanon amid its offensive against the Hezbollah militant group.
At least five peacekeepers have been injured in recent days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljfm
Skip next section Iran ‘prepared for war situation’ — foreign minister
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Iran ‘prepared for war situation’ — foreign minister
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that was ready for war amid increasing tensions with Israel.
“We are fully prepared for a war situation. We are not afraid of war, but we do not want war, we want peace and we will work for a just peace in Gaza and Lebanon,” he said while visiting Iraq’s capital, Baghdad.
He said Iran aimed “to prevent the escalation of tension in the region and to work for peace and cease-fire” in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said was against a regional war spreading to Iran.
“The continuation of the war and its expansion towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and (Israel’s) exploitation of Iraqi airspace as a corridor is completely unacceptable and rejected,” he said.
Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have led to speculation that . Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed a “surprising and deadly” attack on Iran.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljUN
Skip next section UN says Israeli tanks broke through gate of peacekeeper base
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
UN says Israeli tanks broke through gate of peacekeeper base
Peacekeepers belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Israeli tanks broke through a gate to enter one of its positions.
“At around 4:30 a.m., while peacekeepers were in shelters, two [Israeli] Merkava tanks destroyed the position’s gate and forcibly entered the position” in the Ramia area, UNIFIL said.
It said that the tanks left 45 minutes later.
The peacekeepers also reported harmful smoke in the camp caused by the firing of rounds nearby, saying that 15 troops suffered effects such as skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions. The peacekeepers are receiving treatement.
The statement said that yesterday Israeli soldiers “stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical movement near Mais al-Jabal, denying it passage.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljZg
Skip next section Lebanese PM Mikati condemns Israeli call for UN to move peacekeepers
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Lebanese PM Mikati condemns Israeli call for UN to move peacekeepers
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati criticized Israel’s calls for peacekeepers be removed from southern Lebanon.
Lebanon “condemns [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s position and the Israeli aggression against UNIFIL,” Mikati said.
He made the statement after Netanyahu urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to “get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way.”
At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
“The warning that Netanyahu address to… Guterres demanding the removal of the UNIFIL represents a new chapter in the enemy’s approach of not complying with international” norms, Mikati said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljUM
Skip next section Netanyahu tells UN to move peacekeepers ‘out of harm’s way’
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Netanyahu tells UN to move peacekeepers ‘out of harm’s way’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the United Nations to evacuate peacekeepers from combat areas in southern Lebanon.
“Mr Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately,” Netanyahu said in a video shared by his office on Sunday.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had asked UNIFIL several times to leave but it had “met with repeated refusals.”
At least five members of the (UNIFIL) have been wounded in recent days amid fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We regret the injuring of UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injuring,” Netanyahu said. “But the simple and obvious way to ensure this is simply to get them out of the danger zone.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljLj
Skip next section Iranian foreign minister declares ‘no red lines’
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Iranian foreign minister declares ‘no red lines’
Iran’s foreign minister said there would be “no red lines” for the country when it comes to defending its people.
“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media.
His comments came ahead of an anticipated Israeli retaliation for .
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljLh
Skip next section UN peacekeepers in Lebanon should be ‘respected,’ pope says
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon should be ‘respected,’ pope says
called for for peacekeepers in to be “respected,” after they accused military of deliberately firing on their positions.
“I am close to all the people involved, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, where I ask that the UN peacekeepers be respected,” Francis said at the Vatican.
The pope’s comments come after the said in recent days that its troops have repeatedly come under fire in the Lebanese town of Naqura where it is headquartered, as well as in other positions. Five UNIFIL personnel have been injured.
UNIFIL, which involves about 9,500 troops of some 50 nationalities, is tasked with, among other things, monitoring a cease-fire that ended the 33-day 2006 war between Israel and .
Pope Francis also called once again “for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts that the paths of diplomacy and dialogue be pursued to achieve peace.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljLQ
Skip next section Hezbollah clashes with Israeli troops in border villages
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Hezbollah clashes with Israeli troops in border villages
Hezbollah said it clashed with Israeli troops near the village of Ramia in on Sunday.
The Lebanese group said its fighters detonated explosive devices at Israeli soldiers and “clashed with them as they attempted to infiltrate” the village.
The group also claimed to have carried out attacks on Israeli troops elsewhere near the border.
Israel’s military said it is continuing to dismantle “terrorist infrastructure” in southern Lebanon.
“Over the past day, the IAF [Israeli Air Force] has struck approximately 200 Hezbollah targets deep in Lebanon and southern Lebanon, including terrorist cells, launchers, anti-tank missile posts, and terrorist infrastructure sites,” it said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljJu
Skip next section Red Cross says paramedics injured by Israeli strike
10/13/2024October 13, 2024
Red Cross says paramedics injured by Israeli strike
The Lebanese Red Cross said some of its paramedics were injured by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Sunday while they were searching for casualties from an earlier strike.
“Following the airstrike on a house in Sirbine … Lebanese Red Cross ambulance teams were dispatched to the scene in coordination with” UN peacekeepers, the Red Cross said in a statement.
“As the team was searching for casualties to rescue, the house was hit for a second time resulting in concussions to the volunteers and damage to the two ambulances,” it added.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ljIs
The post Middle East: Israeli tanks break through peacekeeper base — UN appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
